A Smithton teen could face charges after a high-speed pursuit that began in Pettis County ended in Cooper County on Wednesday, August 28.
According to a release from the Pettis County Sheriff’s Department, just after 11 p.m., a Sedalia Police officer attempted a traffic stop, but the driver fled in the vehicle, and a pursuit was initiated.
Pettis County deputies took over the pursuit with assistance from Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers. The pursuit continued east on U.S. Highway 50 into Morgan County; then north on Highway 5 into Cooper County. Stop sticks were deployed, but the driver of the suspect vehicle, veered the vehicle off the roadway to prevent striking them. As the vehicle went into a ditch, a rear-seat passenger jumped out. The vehicle continued toward I-70 in Cooper County and stopped in the parking lot of Love’s Truck Stop. The driver, 19-year-old Jakson Alexander Hewett-Jones, was taken into custody for a warrant out of Pettis County. According to online court documents, the warrant was issued on August 8 for failure to appear.
During the investigation, authorities learned Hewett-Jones allegedly would not allow the two passengers to get out of the vehicle; and he allegedly was tampering with evidence during the pursuit.
Formal charges relating to the pursuit are pending.